ONDA News: Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, introduce legislation for two new wilderness areas in Oregon’s high desert

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 28, 2010

Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, introduce legislation for two new
wilderness areas in Oregon's high desert

The Cathedral Rock and Horse Heaven Wilderness Act of 2010 was
introduced today by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley(D-
Ore.). This proposed legislation will consolidate land ownership and
protect 16,400 acres of new wilderness along the John Day River. The
Cathedral Rock and Horse Heaven Wilderness Areas would encompass
dramatic basalt cliffs and rolling hills of juniper, sagebrush and
native grasses, along with a hidden pine forest. The area offers
world-class opportunities for outdoor recreation as well as crucial
wildlife habitat for elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep and native fish
such as salmon and steelhead trout.

This proposal is a collaboration between diverse groups of
stakeholders, including Young Life, a Christian youth organization
that owns and operates nearby Washington Family Ranch, local ranchers,
and the Bend-based Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA). The
proposal has been endorsed by Jefferson, Wasco and Wheeler Counties,
local businesses, and the Redmond Chapter of the Oregon Hunters
Association.

Forrest Reinhardt, an independent consultant helping assemble the
landmark legislation, stated that the benefits of this proposal are
twofold. "Obviously, with thousands of teens visiting Washington
Family Ranch each year, safety is a top priority. Consolidation of
public and private land will reduce the number of hunters who wander
on to camp property." Reinhardt went on to say, "The reduction of
private and public land fragmentation also promises to improve land
management and add thousands of acres for public access and
recreational opportunities."

The effort will specifically expand access for boaters and anglers by
transferring nearly five miles of the Wild and Scenic John Day River
into public ownership. This will expand fishing, hunting, camping and
hiking opportunities for the public in the area. John Crafton of the
Redmond chapter of Oregon Hunters Association, said, 'It is
tremendous. This proposal expands a few thousand acres of usable
public lands into over 16,000 acres, and that is a huge benefit for
wildlife because it creates wintering grounds for game animals where
they are left alone to winter naturally."

Under the proposal, BLM is positioned to receive approximately 8,821
acres in exchange for 12,323 acres going to Young Life, with two other
land owners also taking part in the land swap. The larger acreage
going to private landowners is due to BLM receiving river frontage
along the John Day River, which comparatively has much greater value.
The equal-value exchanges will be subject to an appraisal. "In the
end, it's really about protecting this amazing place for future
generations and for native fish and wildlife like wild salmon and
steelhead," said Aaron Killgore of the Oregon Natural Desert
Association.

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Contact information:

Gena Goodman-Campbell, Oregon Natural Desert Association, 541-330-2638

Forrest Reinhardt, Young Life, (949) 400-1778

ONDA Wilderness Party, TONIGHT

Oregon Natural Desert Association Reminder!

ONDA and the Friends of the Badlands (aka Fobbits) cordially invite you to a blowout bash celebrating the new Oregon Badlands and Spring Basin Wilderness Areas

June 18, 2009 7PM-11PM, All ages
Old Stone Church, 157 NW Franklin Ave, Bend

After decades of work by volunteers, local businesses, ONDA, the Friends of the Badlands, the Oregon Congressional Delegation and wilderness supporters throughout Oregon and beyond, President Obama signed the Public Lands Management Act on March 30th, finally protecting The Oregon Badlands and Spring Basin as Wilderness.

Come celebrate this historic victory with us!
Suggested donation $5, donate online or at the door.

Music by: BlackStrap Bluegrass

Protecting Native Trout on John Day River

From ONDA. -hoc
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Fish advocates applauded a federal judge's decision yesterday to protect native steelhead trout in the John Day River Basin. The court order temporarily halts cattle grazing within important native trout streams in eastern Oregon's Malheur National Forest. This latest round of the decade-long litigation targets, as the court put it, "repeated failures" by the Forest Service to address grazing impacts to fish habitat. The steelhead, an iconic Pacific Northwest native trout, is listed under the Endangered Species Act as a "threatened" species in danger of extinction.

In this order, the court suspended grazing until the Forest Service complies with a series of promised mitigation and monitoring measures intended to ensure against further damage to fish habitat this summer. The protective measures cover 330,000 acres and 235 miles of streams on the forest. The court also indicated it would stop grazing mid-season if the Forest Service failed to comply with the order. In the ruling, Judge Haggerty states, "The time has come for the Forest Service to adaptively manage these allotments in response to conditions on the ground rather than in reaction to this court's rulings."

Stream degredation, caused by livestock, in the Malheur National Forest

"Sadly, Forest Service negligence and mismanagement is driving the steelhead toward extinction rather than recovery," Fenty said. "These streams will take time to recover but this decision ensures that the Forest Service must abide by its own rules and regulations and that steelhead will be conserved for current and future generations."

After several years of monitoring chronic overgrazing on the Malheur National Forest, ONDA filed the first of several cases against the Forest Service in 2003. In 2006, a federal judge in Portland ruled that the agencies' grazing plan violated the Endangered Species Act. In 2007, the agencies issued a new grazing plan to guide grazing throughout the forest. Because the plan actually increased grazing levels and weakened the Forest Service's ability to enforce its own ecological health standards, ONDA challenged the plan in December 2007.

The Malheur National Forest is located in eastern Oregon's Blue Mountains. It includes portions of the Upper John Day, Middle Fork John Day, North Fork John Day, and Malheur Rivers. The John Day River is one of the longest undammed rivers in the continental United States. The river and its hundreds of miles of tributary streams on the Malheur National Forest provide spawning, rearing and migratory habitat for the largest native stock of wild steelhead remaining in the Columbia River Basin.

For more information on this case CLICK HERE.

Steens Mountain Wind Power Development: Comments Due 1/16 to Harney County Planning Commission

Now more than ever we need to develop clean, green, efficient sources of energy. And wind power is certainly one attractive alternative to fossil fuels. But this particular proposal is flawed on many levels (see message from ONDA below). Please comment to the Harney County Planning Commission by 5:00pm on January 16th, 2009. -hoc
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Steens Mountain is threatened by wind power development
Columbia Energy Partners (CEP) has submitted applications for two sites—East Ridge Wind and West Ridge Wind—that could install over 130 wind turbines on the north flank of Steens Mountain near the Kiger Gorge Overlook and the North Loop Road.

The developer already holds a county permit for up to 69 turbines on a third, adjacent site on Mann Lake. The development has been divided into multiple parts to try to avoid rigorous review by the State's Energy Facility Siting Council and the developer has done virtually no analysis to date of the development's potential impacts to wildlife.

Comments are due to Harney County Planning Commission by 5:00pm on January 16th, 2009. Visit the Harney County Planning Commission website for more information on the proposed wind project and to read comments.

Comment Now

Points to consider:

• The application does not consider the transmission infrastructure necessary to connect Harney Electric Cooperative and Bonneville Power Administration systems which would cross Steens Mountain and the Malheur Wildlife Refuge.
• CEP has avoided the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council and Oregon Department of Fish Wildlife guidelines by arbitrarily "splitting" their 300 MW project into three sites.
• The developer has only provided a few months of biological information. Far less that the two years of pre-construction data voluntarily agreed to by the wind development community and called for by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.
• This area on Steens Mountain provides important habitat for Greater sage grouse which are currently a candidate being considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act.
• 40-50% of the cost of these projects ($100-$125 of tax equity value for each project according to information supplied by Columbia Energy Partners) will come from tax credits covered by public funds and therefore the public should be fully engaged in this process.

Visit ONDA’s website for more information and to see the visual impact the wind farms would have on the Steens.

ONDA: Comment on OHV use in John Day Management Plan

The Oregon Natural Desert Association is encouraging people to chime in and let the BLM know how they would like to see the John Day Basin managed (see below). Public comment is your best opportunity to make your wishes known - don't spectate, participate! -hoc
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PLEASE COMMENT NOW

Tell the BLM to prioritize primitive recreation activities that don't spoil the land, like hiking, hunting, horseback riding and fishing.

There are only 24 days left to comment on the BLM's draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the entire John Day Basin.

As the second longest undammed river in the Continental United States, the John Day River is one of the best remaining habitats for wild anadromous runs of salmon and steelhead. The area also provides ample opportunity for recreation, such as fishing, rafting, hiking, hunting and horseback riding.

Please tell the BLM that Off-highway vehicle use in the John Day Basin is a major concern, as it contributes to riparian vegetation damage, bank erosion, soil compaction, water pollution, and other negative ecological impacts.

Let the BLM know that you are opposed to implementation of Alternative 3 in the draft RMP, which would designate two "no-limits" OHV zones adjacent to Sutton Mountain WSA and Rudio Mountain proposed WSA.

The Resource Management Plan should eliminate OHV use from the following lands:

• Any lands that have been identified as having wilderness qualities and all adjacent public lands.
• All ONDA citizen-inventoried public lands deemed to have wilderness character.
• All designated WSAs and Wilderness areas.
• Tell the BLM why the John Day Basin is important to you and that improved management of OHV travel is crucial to protecting native deserts.

For more information on the John Day RMP CLICK HERE
To comment about OHV use in the John Day Basin CLICK HERE

ONDA: Steens Mtn. Recreation Plan Comment Period

From Oregon Natural Desert Association. -hoc
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PLEASE COMMENT NOW

On the Steens Mountain Comprehensive Recreation Plan

Comment Period Ends December 31st

The BLM is seeking public comments on recreational opportunities and facilities and activities that occur or should occur on the Steens Mountain.

Some issues that are being considered include:

• Dispersed Recreation (hiking, camping, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, other)
• Developed Recreation Sites (campgrounds, picnic grounds)
• Steens Mountain Back Country Byway/Overlooks/Facilities
• Winter Recreation (snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling)
• Trails/Trailheads
• Off-Highway Vehicle Management
• River Use

ONDA encourages you to discuss these points:

1) That BLM's analysis of transportation planning on Steens Mountain should include both motorized and non-motorized travel and should include a comprehensive, up-to-date inventory of routes within the Steens.

2) The BLM should analyze wilderness and roadless values present on Steens Mountain and how BLM's transportation planning decision can protect those values by closing obsolete, redundant and resource-damaging routes.

The Full Language of the plan can be accessed here.

To make comments online on the Steens CRP click here.

To make comments in writing click here.

ONDA National Trails Day: Badlands, Bluegrass, Burritos and Bitter

Learn about the Oregon Badlands Wilderness

(Bend, OR) The Oregon Natural Desert Association invites you to celebrate National Trails Day on June 7. In partnership with Pine Mountain Sports and Friends of the Badlands we are proud to sponsor the first Badlands, Bluegrass, Burritos and Bitter National Trails Day event.

$10 per person includes round-trip shuttle from Pine Mountain Sports, guided hike, live bluegrass music, burritos, and a complimentary Badlands Bitter by Silver Moon (for 21 and over). $5 fee for 3:00 p.m. onwards includes bluegrass music and burritos.

RSVP required for hikes due to limited shuttle space. Visit Pine Mountain Sports at 255 NW Century Drive to reserve your space, or call 385-8080.

Schedule:
9:30 a.m. Shuttle ride from Pine Mountain Sports to the Oregon Badlands where participants will hike and learn about the area proposed as a Wilderness Area. Two separate hikes, 3.5 – 4 hours in duration, will depart from the Flatiron Trailhead and the Badlands Rock Trailhead.

2:00 p.m. Shuttles will return hikers to Pine Mountain Sports.

3:00 - 5:00 p.m. The day will conclude with a gathering with burritos, a special Badlands Bitter Double Bad brew from Silver Moon Brewing and live bluegrass music at Pine Mountain Sports. The party will also include a short program presented by David Eddleston of Friends of the Badlands, and a raffle with prizes donated by Pine Mountain Sports.

Wyden Announces Wilderness Legislation for Badlands in Deschutes County

More than 100 people gathered under gray skies east of Bend this morning on the edge of what will become the Badlands Wilderness under legislation Sen. Ron Wyden introduced today. Below is the news release from Sen. Wyden's office about the legislation announced this morning. For more about the Badlands Wilderness, visit the Oregon Natural Desert Association website at www.onda.org. -hoc
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News Release. . .
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 27, 2008

Wyden announces wilderness legislation for Badlands in Deschutes County

Bend, Or - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden announced today that he will introduce legislation to declare the 30,000-acre Badlands area east of Bend as wilderness.

"After years of increasing interest and excitement about protecting this beautiful place, I am ready to introduce the legislation necessary to create the 30,000-acre Oregon Badlands Wilderness," Wyden told a crowd of local residents during a visit to the Badlands. "It will tell the world that Central Oregon is a place with an unbelievable menu of recreation, where you can ski in the morning on one side of town and enjoy the solitude of high desert wilderness in the afternoon on the other."

The Badlands's 30,000 acres, located 15 miles east of Bend, contains lava flows and ancient junipers. This area was named for its harsh terrain and fantastic rock formations. Wyden said the wilderness bill will be officially introduced when he returns to Washington, D.C.

Wyden noted that the Badlands is where Rachel Scdoris, a legally blind Central Oregon resident, trained for three Iditarod sled dog races. "This designation is in many ways a tribute to this remarkable young woman who grew up driving and training her sled dog team through this area – and will continue doing so under my bill, for as long as she chooses," Wyden said.

Wyden's wilderness bill will closely follow the boundary of the Bureau of Land Management's Wilderness Study Area (WSA), plus several hundred acres acquired in two land exchanges, including one with the Central Oregon Irrigation District. The BLM's current practice of keeping the area off limits to motorized recreation would continue under a wilderness designation. Approximately 450,000 acres adjacent to the Badlands will continue to be available for off road vehicle recreation.

"Thousands of Central Oregonians and over two hundred local businesses have made it clear that the time is now to permanently protect the Badlands, said Brent Fenty, executive director of the Oregon Natural Desert Association, "Badlands Wilderness will be good for our economy, our quality of life and ensures that current and future generations can continue to experience a High Desert gem right in Bend's backyard."

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